A fiery UN Security Council debate unfolded on Thursday as Pakistan and Israel exchanged sharp accusations over Israel’s recent strike in Doha. Islamabad branded the assault on Hamas leaders in Qatar as “illegal, unprovoked, and a threat to regional stability.”
The emergency session was called under the agenda item “Situation in the Middle East.” It was requested by Algeria, Pakistan, and Somalia, with France and the United Kingdom lending support.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, opened his address with strong words. He condemned the Israeli strike as a “brazen and illegal assault” that violated Qatar’s sovereignty.
“This was not an isolated incident,” Ahmad declared. “It is part of a consistent pattern of Israeli aggression and violations of international law, undermining peace and stability in the region.”
He stressed that Israeli airstrikes targeted a residential area, deliberately endangering civilians, which he said amounted to a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
The Pakistani envoy also described the strike as a direct challenge to diplomacy. He pointed out that the attack came at a sensitive time when Gaza peace negotiations were reportedly making progress.
“Targeting the territory of a principal mediator during delicate talks is a deliberate attempt to sabotage diplomacy and prolong civilian suffering,” he said.
Ahmad reaffirmed Islamabad’s solidarity with Qatar, citing the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Doha. He called the visit proof of Pakistan’s unwavering support for Qatar’s security and sovereignty.
“This attack is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, specifically Article 2(4), which prohibits the use of force against another state’s territorial integrity,” he noted. Ahmad further accused Israel of following a long record of cross-border actions in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen.
The Security Council statement, adopted earlier in the day, echoed these concerns. Ahmad read from it, underlining the Council’s collective condemnation of the attack. Members expressed regret over civilian casualties, urged de-escalation, and reaffirmed support for Qatar’s sovereignty. The statement also recognised Qatar’s critical role, alongside Egypt and the US, in mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire, the release of hostages, and ending the conflict.
Israel’s envoy, however, defended Tel Aviv’s position. He drew a controversial parallel, citing the US operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
“When bin Laden was eliminated in Pakistan, the world did not question why a terrorist was targeted abroad,” he said. “The question was why a terrorist was sheltered. The same principle applies today. There is no immunity for Hamas.”
Pakistan quickly exercised its right of reply. Ahmad dismissed the analogy as “ludicrous” and accused Israel of deflecting blame from its “illegal actions and violations of international law.”
“Israel is an occupier and a serial violator of the UN Charter. It threatens the international community and humanitarian organisations, even the United Nations itself,” he said. “Despite being the aggressor, it pretends to be the victim. Today, it stands fully exposed.”
He also highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism. “The international community knows Pakistan’s role in decimating Al Qaeda. We remain committed to global counterterrorism efforts,” Ahmad said.
The Israeli envoy struck back, accusing Pakistan of double standards. “Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan and killed there. No one condemned the US. When others act against terrorists, no one objects. Yet you criticise us,” he remarked. “You cannot change 9/11, nor the fact that bin Laden was on your soil.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani also addressed the Council under Rule 37. He condemned the strike, saying it targeted a residential compound housing negotiators and their families.
“This is a violation of sovereignty,” Al-Thani declared. “Israel, led by extremists, has crossed every boundary. Which state attacks a mediator and the negotiating teams it hosts?” He recalled that the Taliban’s political office in Doha facilitated US-Taliban talks, and yet Washington never targeted those negotiators.
“We call for peace, not war. We will not be deterred by voices of destruction,” he concluded.
UN officials also weighed in. Assistant Secretary General Mohamed Khaled Khiari warned of destabilisation. Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, described the strike as “an alarming escalation” that endangered peace talks. She noted that the airstrike killed Hamas affiliates and a Qatari security officer.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of every state, including Qatar, must be respected,” she told the Council.
DiCarlo said Israel claimed responsibility, with Prime Minister Netanyahu describing it as “a wholly independent operation” in response to a deadly Hamas attack in Jerusalem earlier that week. She also reported widespread condemnation from Qatar, the GCC, the Arab League, and the OIC.
China’s delegate accused Israel of “bad faith” for bombing negotiators just days after a ceasefire proposal was tabled. France condemned the strike as a breach of international law. The UK called the action counterproductive. The US urged restraint, saying such unilateral actions were not in Israel’s or Washington’s interests. Algeria and Somalia also demanded firm Council action to prevent further destabilisation.
The heated UN Security Council debate reflected deep divisions. Pakistan led the charge in defending international law and linking Israeli occupation to recurring crises. Ahmad said lasting peace could only come through a comprehensive settlement that ends the occupation.
Observers noted Pakistan’s strong blend of legal, humanitarian, and diplomatic arguments. Ahmad stressed that striking Qatar—a key mediator—was not only an attack on sovereignty but also an attack on diplomacy itself.
By the close of the session, the Council reaffirmed the importance of mediation, hostage releases, and a political solution for Gaza. Yet, the sharp exchanges underscored the ongoing rift over international law, accountability, and double standards.
For Pakistan, the session was a chance to reaffirm its principled position, highlight Qatar’s mediation role, and push back against unilateral military actions that endanger civilian lives.
The Doha strike, and the ensuing UN Security Council debate, has raised pressing questions about the effectiveness of international mechanisms to protect mediators, uphold law, and safeguard civilians in conflict zones. The outcome will likely shape Middle East diplomacy in the months ahead.
